In 1969, Ford would reinvent the success they had nearly a decade earlier with the Falcon – launch a popular compact car. And just like the Mustang from five years before, the Maverick would be based on the Falcon’s platform (why mess with a winning formula?). This edition of the Maverick from 1975 looks like a solid survivor that appears to need little or no work. And the price isn’t bad at $2,500 here on craigslist. The car can be found in Park River, North Dakota. A tip of the fedora to Pat L. for sending this tip our way!
The Maverick started as a no-frills car whose mission was to put a dent in the intrusion of the imports into the U.S. car market (wasn’t that the Falcon’s goal a decade earlier?). I remember original advertising claims saying you could get into a new basic Maverick for $1,995, priced in a similar neighborhood as the little cars from across the pond. The Maverick indirectly competed with the Mustang, which had begun to outgrow its original roots. Ford sold 579,000 Mavericks the first year, compared to the Mustang’s 619,000 in 1964-65. Fast forward and Mustang sales would be a little more a third of the Maverick at under 200,000 cars.
This lime green version of the Maverick looks like a good 46-year-old car, likely qualifying for the “best one left” competition. Options seem to be have been confined to a vinyl top, automatic transmission, and power front disc brakes and steering. The engine is likely Ford’s 200 cubic inch six-banger that was rated at around 90 hp by 1975 standards. This car looks nice for a reported 95,000 miles.
Just as the Maverick ended up putting a dent in Mustang sales, the same would happen to it when Ford introduced the Granada in 1975. Sales of the Maverick would drop 43% from the 1974 model year while smaller, economical cars, in general, were selling like hotcakes. Ford would phase the Maverick out after 1977. If you had just $2,500 to spend on a used car today, this could be a nice one – if you didn’t need air conditioning.
With the lime paint and the avocado interior, this Maverick just screams 1975. It really looks like it is in good shape. Sure, it is slow and simple and boring and has four doors and all that, but it would be easy to maintain, and I’m certain you would gather attention at any car show. The fun-to-cost ratio at only $2500 is extremely attractive.
Perfect candidate for a daily driver; it’s in great shape and it’ll be cheap on fuel. Can’t beat the price as $2,500 doesn’t buy much these days. For that kind of money the buyer could afford to slot in a small block V8 and A/C to give it a little more pep and have the comfort of cold A/C on hot days. I can’t image this clean little Maverick will last long at that price.
I’m sure that A/C wasn’t a major selling feature in North Dakota in 1975.
One North Dakota summer might change your mind. Even in 1975.
I doubt it. My Mother’s first car with A/C was 1978. We all survived without it. If you got too hot you went swimming or to the library.
Every time I see “nicest one left” in the title, I immediately think base model, 4 door, auto, with less than 30k miles.
I think “World’s Best Cup of Coffee”.
hell ya
This is tempting but Fla is a long way away and the lack of AC is definitely a factor.
Easy way to get into the Cars and Coffee scene with a car you can drive and even modify without provoking outrage. (Like adding. AC)
This looks like a perfect small town show car. How can you miss
That’s a beauty! Nice one, Russ and Pat!
Got any extra room in that new garage of yours Scotty?
I think what really smacked the Maverick down, sales-wise, was the Duster. While both were 1970 models, the ’70 Maverick was introduced in April of ’69, and only has a 2-door. Sales were indeed around 579,000. But for ’71, which was a more normal-length model year, sales were down to something like 275,000, despite the addition of the 4-door. I think sales kept tapering down in general, until a big uptick for 1974, when it was helped by the Arab oil embargo, but then they started sliding again for ’75-77. In ’77 it was down to around 98,000 units. Not bad actually, considering how outdated it was by then, plus the buying public’s desire for more ritzy smaller cars.
Looks good for its age. I had to drive many of these back during the early years, and up to end of production. Always felt like it was a punishment for some unknown crime. The brakes on the early models were none too good either. I understand what FORD was trying to do here, but always preferred the Falcon far more than the Maverick. Once drove a Maverick 1500 miles in two days with a friend. Every time we had to stop for gas it was another quart of oil needed as well. Was never so happy to get out of a car as when that trip was over. Said I would never spend more than 10 minutes in another Maverick. YMMV.
Nice looking car. The only cosmetic work that I see that needs work is with the grille. Other than that, the car looks great! If I didn’t already have a car, I might’ve considered something like this. There’s something I’ve always liked about the Ford Maverick and the Mercury Comet. The only thing I don’t like is that a station wagon version wasn’t available. Only a 4 door sedan and a 2 door (Grabber) coupe.
Bought one of these used, for the family. It ran and ran. Lasted for many years. Then a trusted mechanic said it needed a new engine. I pulled the valve cover and hit a stuck valve with a hammer. It ran well for many more years. They were dependable cars.
i bought one new fall of 69 was called a 1970 difference was first ones built in 1969 had key on dash real 1970 moved it to steering column was great car 200 ci 6 with 3 on the tree best mpg on hwy was mid 20 but that was good back then
We bought a 75 4dr brand new from Rodman Ford in Foxboro, Ma.. Plain jane white,W/ black vinyl roof, auto, ps, pb and 200 ci 6.. Great car for taxiing the kids back and forth to school sports.. Had to trade it off for a larger car as the kids got bigger.. They’re nice when they’re new..
My dad got a brand new 75 Maverick as company car. The very first day he drove my brother & I out for ice cream. I had a vanilla ice cream & an orange crush soda. I was 5, sitting in the middle between my dad & older brother. All of a sudden it all came up all over the front seat of my dads first new car he’d ever had.
Nicest POS left. Who cares?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ….
$1995 in 1970 is a lil more than $14000 today. That was for the 2 door.
Try finding any car for that price today, let alone 2 door, rear wheel drive & a ton of color & option & body style choices. & tons of other model examples to choose & not just from Ford – i wouldn’t know what car to pick – back then – today? – what a joke of “choices”.